L'Othantique-Someone Explain the Differences

[Phog Allen]

Good afternoon gents. I was looking over the French Shaving Soap Compendium and came across the reference to this somewhat elusive soap. When our own Lathermeister first reviewed this soap some years ago, I was taken with the idea of gathering in a cake and giving it a try. However, at the time you had to email the company for a purchase and there was no real consensus on availability, etc. Now I find on the list in the compendium that this may be available in three different scents. At least it would appear so. They are described as so; Fig et Melanie, Le Collectionneur pour L'Homme and Pere et Fils varieties. Okay, a rudimentary Google search pulls up a much more accessible L'Othantique website. However, their only description is of the Le Collectionneur pour L'Homme. Alright, where doe s that leave us with the Pere et Fils and Fig et Melanie? These are all quite enticing since as I remember, Ron got more than acceptable results with this lather. Is there someone out there who could give me some information about these soaps?

Regards, Todd

 

[Evbo]

Good afternoon gents. I was looking over the French Shaving Soap Compendium and came across the reference to this somewhat elusive soap. When our own Lathermeister first reviewed this soap some years ago, I was taken with the idea of gathering in a cake and giving it a try. However, at the time you had to email the company for a purchase and there was no real consensus on availability, etc. Now I find on the list in the compendium that this may be available in three different scents. At least it would appear so. They are described as so; Fig et Melanie, Le Collectionneur pour L'Homme and Pere et Fils varieties. Okay, a rudimentary Google search pulls up a much more accessible L'Othantique website. However, their only description is of the Le Collectionneur pour L'Homme. Alright, where doe s that leave us with the Pere et Fils and Fig et Melanie? These are all quite enticing since as I remember, Ron got more than acceptable results with this lather. Is there someone out there who could give me some information about these soaps?

Hi Todd --

I bought a cake of Pere et Fils from cranstonaccents.com.

It's a very nice soap with a subtle, citrusy, grapefruit-y (well, at least to my nose) aroma. I'm pretty sure it's a glycerin-based soap -- it sure looks like one -- but it works very well indeed. I've had good results.

I bought this soap before realizing there were other varieties. I'm curious myself about the other 2 flavors. Any further info would be great.

Hope this helps!

Evan

 

[Phog Allen]

Hi Evan. Grapefruit you say? Well, well, well. If you have ever used Salter's "Citrus" shave cream then you have sniffed a grapefruit laced shave lather. I love that scent. It may be differently named now. They changed up the names a year or two ago. This makes the Pere et Fils VERY enticing to me. As it is, I am such a sucker for Franco soap the other two nag at me as well. The name alone; Fig et Melanie is pulling at me.

Lets see now. I posted one of those foolish, "what do I buy next" threads a week or so ago. I had it down to AOS lemon or eShave Mandarin(maybe the linden/avacado). Now a week later I am up to those two plus considering three different L'Othanique offerings and maybe the Harris Arlington. SSAD truly never ends.

Regards, Todd